Kildea's book on Britten

[amateur51]

PS I don't think Britten was an ugly child, but why would it be relevant anyway?!

That struck me too, Mary - what on earth was Hensher thinking of when he wrote that?

[Ferretfancy]

That struck me too, Mary - what on earth was Hensher thinking of when he wrote that?

Hensher certainly agreed that Kildea's book was wrong about the syphilis theory, but the rest of his review was given over to attacking the composer in every way that he could. I think this went beyond reasoned criticism, and it was contained in a full page article. It may be perfectly valid to be unresponsive to any composer's music, you may not feel that the War Requiem is a masterpiece for example, but this was just venom.

[Nick Armstrong]

The comments online are worth reading.

They are. This one echoed my thoughts pretty accurately: "One of the most mean spirited disparagements of genius by mediocrity I've ever read."

[Mary Chambers]

It was good to read this balanced and informed assessment of the books from Fiona Maddocks after Hensher's hate-filled rant.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/feb/16/benjamin-britten-kildea-powell-review?CMP

[Stanley Stewart]

Indeed, Fiona Maddocks also summarised her views on last night's, (15 Feb), Review Show, on BBC 2, when the two Britten biographies were discussed. I've just finished wending my way through Kildea's biography and look forward to Neil Powell's tome in the next few days.

Serendipity intervened recently when I unexpectedly came across an off-air video recording of Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, presented by Michael Berkeley at Blythburgh Church, Suffolk when it was filmed for Masterworks: Six Pieces of Britain, in July 1999. Ian Bostridge, soloist, Timothy Brown, horn soloist, BBC SO/Colin Davis. First rate background research, followed by a full splendid performance. Needless to say, it went straight to hard disk, thence DVD, with enhanced picture and sound quality. Made my day!

[VodkaDilc]

Two interesting contributions to the Britten debate in recent days:

Michael Kennedy's article, The great 'hater', in the current Spectator. As expected, MK gives a very thoughtful and authoritative judgement on BB's dislike of such figures as Boult, Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Walton (though he blew hot and cold over WW), and his banishment of figures like Tear, Mackerras and Crozier. His final conclusion: "The more one learns of Britten the man, the less one warms to him. But his music - that is something else!"

The second is intriguing. A letter in The Guardian takes issue with the review of the Kildea book which appeared last week. He defends War Requiem: "........and having heard its first memorable London performance in a smog-filled Westminster Abbey in the early 50s..............." Memorable indeed!

[Mary Chambers]

Britten's Aldeburgh doctor has died, still furious about Kildea's syphilis theory, according to Norman Lebrecht (whom I agree with on this occasion, though frequently I don't).

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2013/03/brittens-personal-physician-dies-furious-at-syphilis-fable.html

[LeMartinPecheur]

Dr Jack MacInnes' letter in this month's BBCMM points out that a streptococcal infection that laid Britten low in 1940 on his way to Chicago, and which recurred on his return to Long Island, could well have been rheumatic fever. This is well-known to produce valvular heart disease up to 50 years after the original infection.

[VodkaDilc]

Britten's Aldeburgh doctor has died, still furious about Kildea's syphilis theory, according to Norman Lebrecht (whom I agree with on this occasion, though frequently I don't).

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddi...lis-fable.html

The Guardian printed an obituary recently:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/04/ian-tait?INTCMP=SRCH

[VodkaDilc]

I'm not sure if any conclusions can be drawn, but I've noticed that the bookshops in and around Oxford have a plentiful supply of the Kildea book, but, apart from a small stock a few weeks ago, no copies of the Powell. I wonder if sales figures are available.

[Mary Chambers]

I'm not sure if any conclusions can be drawn, but I've noticed that the bookshops in and around Oxford have a plentiful supply of the Kildea book, but, apart from a small stock a few weeks ago, no copies of the Powell. I wonder if sales figures are available.

The Kildea book has had a great deal of publicity, but Bayan Northcott in the BBCMM gives it three stars, and the Powell four. He is also as irritated as I am by Kildea's writing style, something that not many reviews have mentioned.

Somewhere I have a book of Ian Tait's poems.

Stephen Lock, one of the writers of the Ian Tait obituaries, is a retired doctor who showed visitors round the Red House, possibly still does.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Must we give further credence tio this writer?

[LeMartinPecheur]

I'm not sure if any conclusions can be drawn, but I've noticed that the bookshops in and around Oxford have a plentiful supply of the Kildea book, but, apart from a small stock a few weeks ago, no copies of the Powell. I wonder if sales figures are available.

Are you saying that Kildea must be selling like hot cakes, or that it's sticking on the shop shelves and will shortly be remaindered? Presumably the former as you imply that no one has been buying the Powell if stocks of it have never been better than small

[VodkaDilc]

Are you saying that Kildea must be selling like hot cakes, or that it's sticking on the shop shelves and will shortly be remaindered? Presumably the former as you imply that no one has been buying the Powell if stocks of it have never been better than small

As I said originally, I'm not sure which interpretation is correct. I am guessing that the Kildea is selling well, but could easily be wrong.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It sounds to me as if Kildea is the Rita Skeeter of the Muggle world.